Bottle feed and holdback motion



Aug. 19, 1941. c. HoLM ETAL BOTTLE FEED AND HOLDBACK MOTION Filed Jan.8, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 [.IIITIIIIIIT Illllw IL I l I Aug. 19, 1941. c.HoLM E-rAL BOTTLE FEED AND HOLDBACK MOTION Filed Jan. 8, 1940 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 19, 1941. c. HoLM r-:rAL 2,252,931

BOTTLE FEED AND HOLDBAGK MOTION Filed Jan. 8, 1940 4 sheets-sheet s Aug.19, 1941. c. HoLM 'ETAL BOTTLE FEED AND HOLDBACK MOTION Filed Jan. 8,1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 darl Holm Patented Aug. 19, 1941 no'r'rm: raap Nonommen MorroN cui norm, Wormser, ma nem-y A. E. sione", l

North Grano n, Mass., assignors to Economic Machinery Company,Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application January s,1940. serai No. 312,818

(ci. 19a- 2.4)

ISCiaiml.

the performing of an operation on the bottles,

this operation being, for example, a sidewise removal of the bottlesfrom the conveyor and a spacing of the bottles on an adjacent conveyor.The invention includes a structure by which all of the -bottles on theconveyor may be stopped temporarily while the aforesaid operation isbeing performed on the leading bottle or bottles, l,

without stopping the conveyor.

In order to reduce bottle cost as wel-i as freight costs, and for otherreasons, the amount of glass used in the manufacture of a bottle hasbeen reduced more and more with the result that the bottles are morebreakable and must be handled with greater care. When bottles areadvanced intermittently along a conveyor, the banging of one bottleagainst the next is frequently enough to break the bottle. It is thusessential that the conveying mechanism and the associated apparatus beso constructed that the bottles may be moved as slowly and as gently aspossible and to this end the .invention involves, in combination with anintermittently operable conveyor mechanism, a. device to allow a greaterperiod of time between the successive advancing movements of thebottles. In this way relatively light weight bottles may be handledwithout injury. Other and further objects and advantages of theinvention will more fully appear from the following detailed descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 isa side view of a device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view as indicated by the arrow 2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of' a portion of the device of Fig. 2,with the parts in a different position. I

Fig. 4 is a sectional view substantially along the line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the parts in a differentposition.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view through the device.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a feature.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevation of a control device.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the device of Fig. 8.

With reference to the drawings, two parallel conveyors IIl spaced fromeach other are supported -by sprocket wheels I`I, one of these wheelsbeing suitably driven from a source of power, not shown. Between the twoconveyors is located a bar or rest I2 which extends parallel to andadjacent to the upper surfaces of the convsyors. This bar has downwardlyextending lugs I3 integral therewith and connected by pins I4 to theends of arms I5. 'I'hese arms I5 are mounted on spaced parallel shaftsI6 for rotation with the shafts. Brackets I1 mounted on and dependingfrom the same frame 9 that supports the conveyors provide supports forthe shafts I6. On the forward end of each of the shafts It, as bestshown in Figs. 1 and 2, are mounted depending arms IB' having theirlower ends connected by a link I9, suitable pivot pins I8 providing theconnection between the link and the arms. The link I8 ass es a movementof the entire rest I2 vertically t one time so that its upper surfaceremains horizontal and in parallel relation to the conveyor surfaces.One of the depending arms IB' is pivotally connected by an adjustablelink 20 to a bell crank lever 2| mounted on a pin 22 journalled in thebracket 23' on the frame 23 of the machine.

The bell crank lever 2i has at the end opposite the adjustable link 20 aroller 24 which engages with and rides on a cam 25, the latter beingmounted on a suitably rotated shaft 28. The shaft is journalled in abracket 21 on the frame 23. The cam may be provided with an adjustable,removable and replaceable element 28 having the cam surface with whichthe roller 24 engages, the shape of this element controlling the motionof the bar I2, and thus the time during which the bottles are heldlagainst movement along the conveyor. This element 28 is adjustablecircumferentially through arcuate slots 29 therein to bring the highpoint of the cam to predetermined positions angularly of the shaft 2B.This adjustment times the motion of the bar I2 in accordance with themovements of the other parts of the machine, as will hereinafter appear.

'I'he rest I2 is located, as above stated, in substantially parallelrelation to the upper surfaces of the conveyors IIi and is normallyslightly below their surfaces, as shown in Fig. 4, so that it or otherarticles can move intermittently forward with theamount of forwardmovement dependent upon the speed of the conveyors I8 and the timeduring which the bar |2 is below the surfaces of the conveyors to' allowthe bottles to be carried forward.

Although only two bottles B and B' are shown in position in Figs. 1 and2, it will bel understood .that there are several bottles in line alongthe conveyors. In the position of the parts as shown Vin Fig. 2, the barl2 has been elevated to the position of Fig. 5 so that the bottles arestationary in readiness for an operation to be performed thereon. In thearrangement shown this operation consists of a transfer laterally of thetwo end bottles to a supplementary conveyor 38, the surface of whichextends substantially parallel to the conveyors 8 and along which thebottles are carried forward for-a labeling or other operation. To shiftthe leading bottle or bottles laterally from the conveyors I atransverse slide 38 is horizontally movable above the conveyors Ill andhas mounted on the end thereof a bottle pusher 3|. For purposes whichwill hereinafter more fully appear, the pusher is not of a suicientwidth to assure a lateralmovement of both of the bottles and thus at theside of the pusher is positioned a pivotally mounted lever 32 having anoutwardly extending end 36 which increases the eil'ective width of theface of the bottle pusher to assure a lateral movement of both of thebottles. The lever 32. as shown in Fig. 2, is mounted on a pin 33 on abracket 34 attached to the lslide 38, and a spring 35 normally holds thelever 32 in the position shown, a stop 31 on the bracket 34 limiting themovement of the lever.

The end 36 of the lever, as best shown in Fig. 2, extends beyond theedge of the pusher 3| in a direction opposite to the movement of thevbottles on the conveyor, and thus the effective width of the face of thepusher is enough to assure a movement of both of the end bottlessimultaneously oif of the conveyor and into the position of Fig. 3. Asthe pusher returns from the position of Fig. 3 to its original positionof Fig. 2, the spring 35 being very light in weight, allows the lever tomove inwardly so that it will not interfere with a bottle located on theconveyor inv the position of the bottle B of Fig. 3.

For actuating the slide 30 the base 231 of the machine has a bracket 42,Fig. 6, in which is journalled a cam shaft 43. A cam 44 on the shaft isin a position for engagement with a roller 45 on the end of an arm 46.This arm is mounted on a shaft 41 journalled in a bracket 48 and thisshaft 41 has a second'arm 48 thereon, the latter being connected by alink 58 to the slide 30.

'I'he cam shaft 41 is driven in unison with the shaft 26 through asuitable gearing which may be a bevel gear connection 5| to assure anupward and downward movement of the bar l2 in timed relation.to themovements of the slide 38. The cam shaft is also driven in timedrelation to the movements of the conveyors I8 and the drive for .doesnot interfere with the v normal forward this pulpose may be a bevel gearconnection 6| between the cam' shaft 43 and the drive' shaft 52 which isconnected by a belt 63 to the shaft 54 on which one of the sprocketwheels is mounted.

The slide 30 is reciprocable in a bracket 55 mounted on the frame 23 ofthe machine. -On the opposite side of the conveyor belts I8 is located abracket 56 in which a slide 51 is reciprocable. Each of theseslides`m'oves at a right angle to the direction of movement of theconveyorbelts, as shown. 'I'he slide 51 has mounted on the end thereof aplate 39 having a wedge-shaped projection 48 centrally of the facethereof. 0n opposite sides of the projection are recesses 4| of a widthto receive the bottles on the conveyor I8 and to assure a proper spacingof the bottles on the conveyor 38, as shown in Fig. 2. This plate 39holds the bottles against endwise movement on the conveyor 38 until'itis withdrawn from operative position, this withdrawal movement beingeffected by a movement of the slide 51.

In the same bracket 56 is a second slide 68, the latter having mountedon the end thereof a follower plate 6|, the face of which extendsparallel to the face of the pusher. 'I'he follower is adapted to movetoward the pusher to define between the follower and pusher a spacesubstantially the width of the bottles and into which the bottles aremoved by the conveyor. The follower then moves with the pusher as thebottles are shifted from the main conveyor onto the conveyor 38 wherethey are spaced by the splitter plate 39.

For reciprocation of the slide 60 the cam shaft 43 has a cam 62 thereonengageable by a roller 63 on the end of an arm 64 turnable on a shaft 65supported by a bracket 68. 'I'he same shaft also supports an arm 61, theend of which is connected by a link 68 to the slide 60. This arm 61 hasa projecting lug 69 connected by a spring 10 to the arm 64 so that theslide 60 is resiliently urged into the operative position of Fig. 2.Movement of the slide into inoperative position is assured bycooperating lugs 1| and 12 on the arms 64 and 61 respectively. A spring13 retains the the follower roll against the cam, as will be api parent.

In order to prevent movement of the pusher when the bottles to beshifted are not in a proper position. the pusher slide is held in aninoperative position by latches which are released only when the bottlesare in the desired position on the conveyor. To this end, as shown inFig. '1, an arm 19 is pivoted on a stud 80 supported by the bracket 55,and the end of this arm is in a position to be engaged by the leadingbottle on the conveyor I0. A coil spring 8| normally holds this arm inthe full line position shown, in which position a projecting lug 82 onthe arm acts as a latch to engage an abutment 83 on the slide 38. Whenthe leading bottle on the conveyor |Il is advanced to the properposition for a lateral discharge from the conveyor, the arm 19 is rockedinto the dotted position of Fig. 7, thereby disengaging the latch topermit the movement of the slide 38.

As shown in Fig. 9, an additional latch 84 on the end of a verticallymovable rod 85 engages in a notch 86 in the slide 30. 'I'he rod 85 has aplate 88 thereon, the latter carrying a projection 88' engageable in aslot 81 in an arm 88. This arm is pivoted on a pin 88 adjustably carriedby a secondary bracket 5l' on the bracket 55 and the free end of the armis in a position to engage the next to the end bottle in line on theconveyor I0, as best shown in Fig. 8. The weight of the arm 88 normallyholds the arm and rod in a position to prevent reciprocation of theslide 30. When the bottle is in a position beneath the end of the arm88, however, the rod 85 is elevated and the slide 80 is free to move.

In addition to the two latches above described, the slide is also heldagainst reciprocation by a latch 80 engageable in a notch 8| in theslide. A coil spring -82 surrounding the rod 83 with which the latch Ilis integral, normally holds the latch in operative position. The lowerend of the rod 83 is pivoted by a pin 84 to a lever 85 which in turn ispivoted on a pin 80 to the bracket I8. This lever has at the endopposite to the pin 8l a follower roll 81 engageable with a cam 88 onthe cam shaft I3. Reciprocation of the slide 80 is thus possible onlywhen the iirst and second bottles in line on the conveyor I0 are in theposition shown in Figs. 1 and 2. It will be understood that evan if thetwo bottles are in position, and have disengaged the correspondinglatches, the slide l0 will still not be advanced until the proper pointin the machine operation, at which time the cam 88 provides forwithdrawal of the latch 80.

The follower slide il is also held in its advanced position by a latch88 on the end of a bell crank lever |00. The latter is rockable on a pin|0| in the bracket 5I and the end of the lever opposite the latch isconnected by 4a rod |02 to one end of a bell crank lever |03. Thislatter lever is pivoted on a pin |04 .on the bracket 55 and the otherend of this lever carries a follower roll |05 in a position to beengaged by a cam |08 on the slide 80. Thus, as the pusher slide beginsits movement for a lateral shifting of the bottles from the mainconveyor l0, the cam |08 engages and moves downwardly the roll |05,thereby disengaging the latch 88 from the notch |01 with which thislatch normally engages.

In the operation of the machine the conveyors I0 move continuously inthe direction of the arrow and the secondary conveyor 38 has itsoperative surface moving continuously in the direction of the arrowthereon. The bottles are intermittently advanced on the conveyors I0,their movement being interrupted by the periodic elevation of thehorizontal bar I2 which elevates the entire row of bottles away from theconveyor surfaces, as shown in Fig. 5. During the periodicinterruptionof the advance of the bottles the pusher 3| is effective for shiftingthe bottles laterally from the conveyor |0 and onto the sec'ondaryconveyor 88 where they are spaced apart by the splitter I8. Theadjustment of the cam 25 is such that the two leading bottles on theconveyor will be advanced from the dotted line position B' of thebottles into the full line position of Fig. 2.

As the bar Il is elevated the pusher 3| begins its lateral movement fortransferring the bottles to the conveyor 30. 'I'his movement is possiblesince the leading bottle has rocked the arm 19 to disengage the latch82,.and since the second bottle has elevated the arm 88 to disengage thelatch 84. The cams for controlling the slide 30 and latch 80 are sotimed that the latch is withdrawn :lust before the slide begins itsmovement to the left, Fig. 8.4

As the slide begins its movement to the left for pushing the bottlesonto the secondary conveyor, the latch 80 for the follower slide 00 isreleased and the latter moves to'the left with the slide 30, the bottlesbeing positioned between the pusher and the follower. After the bottlesare positioned on the secondary conveyor in the notches 4| of thesplitter 38, the latter is withdrawn (to the left. Fig. 8) to allow thebottles to be advanced by the conveyor 58 without interference with thewedge 40. After the bottles have been advanced far enough by theconveyor' 38 so that the splitter and follower may be returned to theiroriginal position they are both restored by their respective cams totheir original position, that of the splitter being shown in full linesin Fig. 2, and that of the follower being shown in dotted lines in Fig.8.

At the same time that the follower begins its return movement tooriginal position the slide l0 carrying the pusher is also restored toits original position of Fig. 2. As this return movement begins, the barI2 is lowered so that the bottles may be advanced on the conveyors I0,so that the successive bottles on the conveyor will be advanced intoalinement with the pusher 3|. It will be understood that the latches 82and 84 are operative as soon as the slide 30 is restored to its originalposition, and prevent further movement of this slide until there are twobottles again in the full line position of Fig. 2.

It will be understood that the longer the period of time that the bar l2may be in its lowered position, the greater is the length of timethatthe conveyors may have for moving the bottles from the dotted lineposition B', Fig. 2, into the full line positions of this figure. Byproviding a resilient lever 35 on the side of the pusher 3| it ispossible for the conveyors to start the advance of the bottles beforethe pusher is entirely restored to its full line position, since theleading bottle on the conveyors may be advanced to the full lineposition of the bottle on the conveyors I0 of Fig. 3 without beinginterfered with by the pusher. The arm 38 being resiliently held inoperative position, .will rock clockwise into the dotted position ofFig. 3 to allow this arm to pass by the bottle on the conveyor |0. Byproviding for increasing the length of operative time of the conveyorsI0 in advancing the bottles -into the proper position for the pusher tofunction the bottles may be advanced at a comparatively slow rate andthere is accordingly much less possibility for breakage or injury to thebottles. To avoid the necessity for accurate timing of the cam 25 it maybe desirable in many instances to provide a stop |08 which extendsacross the conveyors |0 and is engageable by the leading bottle on theconveyor when that bottle reaches the full line position of Fig. 2.

Although the pusher 8| has been described with the arm 36 associatedtherewith it will be understood that a solid pusher may readily be usedwhere the necessity for lextremely slow movement of the bottles on theconveyor is not present; the resilient arml 36 is, however, desirablewith light weight bottles, or with extremely large bottles, and is insuch instances a very desirabl feature.

We claim:

1. The combination with a conveyor for advancing articles thereon and aslide reciprqcable laterally of the conveyor for the removal of a pairof articles .simultaneously from the conveyor, of a pair of latchesnormally holding the slide in inoperative position, means engageable byone of l the articles and associated with one ofthe latches forrendering said latch inoperative when said the removal of articlestherefrom at a predetermined point, of a bar positioned beneath the ar-lticles on the conveyor and movable vertically lower in a position tooppose the slide and to hold l the articles thereagainst during thelateral shifting movement, said follower being reciprccable insubstantially parallel relation to the slide, of a latch for holdingsaid follower against movement, and means on the slide for disengagingsaid latch as the slide begins its lateral movement.

3. The combination with a conveyor for the advance of articles, thereon,la slide reciprocable laterally of the conveyor for the removal ofarticles therefrom at a predetermined point, a follower in a position tooppose the slide and to hold the articles thereagainst during thelateral shifting movement, said follower being reciprovcable insubstantially parallel relation to the slide, of a latch for holdingsaid follower against movement, means on said slide for disengaging thelatch as the slide begins its movement, and'a second latch for holdingsaid slide against movement, said second latch having means associatedtherewith for engagement by the article on the conveyor whereby saidsecond latch is disengaged when the article is in aposition to beremoved from the conveyor. 1

4. The combination with a conveyor for the from and a second conveyoronto which the articles are delivered by the slide, of a splitterreciprocable laterally of the rst conveyor and in a position to receivethe articles from the slide as they are delivered to the secondconveyor, said splitter by its reciprocation being withdrawn afterpositioning the articles to permit advance of the articles by the secondconveyor.

5. The combination with a conveyor for the advance of articles thereon,a slide reciprocable laterally of the ocnveyor for the. discharge of alplurality of articles simultaneously therefrom, and a second conveyoronto which the articles are discharged, of a splitter also reciprocablelatwith referenceto the conveyor surface for elevating the articles fromthe conveyor and thereby stopping their advancing movement, means forreciprocating said bar in timed relation to the movements of the slideand a pivoted arm on said slide with its free end substantially in theplane of the face of the slide and projecting in a direction opposite tothe movement of articles along the conveyor, said arm thereby increasingthe effective width of the face of the-slide for the discharge ofarticles from the conveyor and by its position permitting the advance ofarticles by the conveyor before the slide has reached a position out ofline with said article.

8. The combination with an intermittently operative -horizontalconveyor, of a device for removing articles laterally therefrom, saiddevice n advance of articles, a slide reciprocable laterally v v of theconveyor for the removal of articlesthereerally of the rst conveyor andin a position to receive the articles delivered ontov the secondconveyor by the slide, said splitter having wedgeshaped elementsengageable between the articles for spacing the articles4 on the secondconveyor, said splitter by its reciprocation beingV withdrawn fromoperative position toA provide for the ad- Vance of the articles on thesecond conveyor after they have been delivered thereto and spacedthereon. Y

6. The combination with ra conveyor for the advance of articlessubstantially horizontally and a slide reciprocable laterally of theconveyor for the removal of articles therefrom at a predetermined point,ofa bar. positioned beneath the articles on the conveyor and movablevertically 4with reference to the conveyor surface for elevating thearticles from the conveyor and thereby including a pusher element, theface of which is engageable with the article, and a lever pivoted tosaid element and having a projecting end in substantially the same planeas the face of the pusher element for extending the effective width ofsaid face said projecting end extending beyond the edge ofthe element ina direction opposite to which theV articles are moved on the conveyor,means for resiliently holding said lever in eX- tended position, andmeans for operating the pusher in timed relation to the movements of theconveyor, whereby thel conveyor may begin the advancing movement'of thearticles thereon before the pusher is retracted, the lever being pushedinto retracted position by the articles as they are advanced by theconveyor.

9. The combination with an intermittently operative horizontal conveyor,of a device for transferring articles off the conveyor, said devicecomprising a pusher element engageable with a pair of articlessimultaneously and less wide than the width of the pair of articles, anda lever pivoted to said element and having a free end thereofsubstantially in the plane of the face of Athe pusher element, but.extending beyond the side edge thereof to increase the effective widthof the pusher face, thereby assuring a movement of both of the articlessimultaneously said projecting end extending beyond the .edge of theelement in a direction opposite to which the articles are moved on theconveyor, means for resiliently holding said lever in extended position,and means for operating the'pusher in timed relation to the movements ofthe conveyor, whereby the conveyor may begin the advancing movement ofthe articles thereon before the pusher is retracted, the lever beingpushed into retracted position by the articles as they are advanced bythe conveyor.

l0. 'I'he combination with a horizontal. conveyor, a' device forremoving articles laterally therefrom, said device including apusherelement, the face of which is engageable with the article, and a leverpivoted to said element and having a projecting end in substantially thethe article, said member being reciprocable to Withdraw said member fromoperative position after the article has been properly located.

11. In a device for moving a pair of articles laterally from a conveyor,the combination with a reciprocable slide having a pusher element fortransferring both articles laterally from the conveyor, of a receivingmember having a Wedgelike projection adapted to enter between thearticles engaged by the pusher, thereby separating said articles.

12. In a device for moving a pair of articles laterally from a conveyor,the combination with a reciprocable slide having a pusher element fortransferring both articles laterally from the conveyor, of a receivingmember having a wedgelike projection adapted to enter between thearticles engaged by the pusher, thereby separating said articles, saidreceiving member being reciprocable for movement into and out ofoperative position.

13. The combination with a conveyor, a slide reciprocable laterally ofthe conveyor for the removal of articles therefrom and a pair of latchesnormally holding said slide against movement, of means connected to oneof said latches and in a position to be engaged by an article on theconveyor for disengaging said latch when the article is in a position tobe engaged by the slide, means for procuring reciprocation of the slide,and means operative in timed relation to said last means for disengagingthe second latch.

CARL HOLM. HENRY A. E. SJ OBERG.

